Improvement in wind-wheels



1. M. KAUFFMAN.

Wind.-Wh'ee|.

Patented March 9', I875.

[ml en 2'07, 0% 772 THE GRAPHIC CO.PH 0T0 .-LITH.39 &41 PARK PLACE, FLY.

JAGOB M. KAUFFMAN, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIND-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Lettrrs Patent No. 160,599, dated March 9,1875; application filed February 5, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J noon M. KAUrFnAN, of Goshen, in the county ofElkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wind-Wheels and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear,'and exact description thereof, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same,reference be ing had to the accompanyingdrawing, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, showing the position ofthe parts in a high wind. Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts inacalm. Fig.3 is a diametric sectional view of the turn-table. Fig. 4shows a modification of the adjusting-clutch, of which Fig. 4" is adetached view.

My invention relates to that class of windwheels in which the vanes areconnected to automatic adjusting devices, which compensate the varyingvelocities of the wind 5 and consists in a novel method of mounting thevanes in a wind-wheel, by hinging them at one edge to radial armsprojecting from a central hub, and in the devices for adjusting theposition of the vanes, so as to produce uniform- I ity of speed in thewheel, Whatever may he the velocity of the wind.

In order that others may understand the construction of my invention andits mode of operation, I will proceed to give a particular descriptionthereof, with reference to the drawings, in the several figures of whichlike parts are indicated by similar letters.

A is the supporting-post. At the top of this post is firmly attached theannular bearing a of the turn-table B. The turn-table B is also annular,and has a sleeve or flange, b, projecting from its inner periphery, andfitting inside the bearing a. From one side of the turntable, which Iwill call the-rear, projects an arm, 0, which supports the weather-vaneG. From the opposite side of the turn-table, which I will call thefront, projects an arm, D, upon which are bearings cl d for thewind-wheel shaft. Upon the inner end of the wind-wheel shaft E ismounted a crank-wheel, 6, over one side of the central opening in theturntable, and to this crank-wheel is connected a pitman, which playsthrough the opening in the turn-table, and communicates motion to themachine which it is desired to operate. Upon the other end of shaft E ismounted a hub, F, from which project radial arms or spokes ff, the outerends of which are secured to a hoop, f. To the radial arms f the vanes Gare hinged at their edges by means of hinges g, and swing like doors.Upon the shaft E, to the rear of hub F, is a shifting-hub, h, from whichproject radial arms 72., the outer ends of which are bent at rightangles, and connected loosely, by slip-joints j, to the inner sides ofvanes Gr. Around the rear part of this hub h is a groove, '5, into whichproject the legs of a rider, i. From the top of this rider a rod, K,extends rearward, and is pivoted to a lever, is, the lower end of whichis pivoted to the arm 0 of the turn table. In the end of theshifting-hub It is drilled ahole, 1, diagonally in the direction of thedotted lines on the periphery of the hub h. This hole 1 is directlyopposite an inclined pin, 2, fixed in a disk, 3, firmly secured upon theshaft E at the limit of play of the shiftinghub h.

When the hub h is shifted rearward by means of lever 70 and rod K, thepin 2 enters the hole 1, and guides or twists the shiftinghub h aroundshaft E, causing the arms h to open the vanes G, at which time the endsof I the arms it slip upward upon the slip-jointsj. The reverse actionis obvious. The combination of parts for producing this twisting motionI call the adjusting-clutch.

From the upper end of lever It extends upward a round rod, 0, passingthrough hearings in the ends of short arms Z Z, the other ends of whichare rigidly attached to the shaft L of wing-vane L. From the lower shortarm I projects a curved lug, m, which passes through an open slot,m, inthe top of a post, M, standing on arm 0. From the lever 10 an arm, 2,

extends forward to a point over the opening in the center of theturn-table, and to the endo this arm is jointed arod, 1, which hangsdown within reach of an attendant.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the adjusting-clutch, which Iprefer to use in connection with wheels of large size. In thismodification the rear portion h of the shifting-hub his of somewhat lessdiameter than the disk 3, and from this rear portion of the hub projectsa pin, 4, located directly opposite the space between two horizontalinclined pins, 2 2, projecting from the face of disk 3. When the hub his shifted rearward the pin 4 passes between the pins 2 2, and thetwisting effect is the same as explained above.-

The operation of my invention is as follows: In a calm the parts willstand as shown in Fig. 2, the weightot rod r being just sufficient tohold them. in this position. When a wind begins to blow it strikes theweather-vane O and turns the turn-table, bringing the Wheelface to thewind, when it (the wheel) begins to turn, and through shaft Ecommunicates motion to the crank-wheel e and the pitman, which may beconnected by ordinary means to the machinery which it is desired tooperate. In a very high wind or a hurricane the wing-vane L is blownbackward until its edge is toward the wind, being turned to thisposition, as the wind forces it backward, bymeans of the curved lug mslipping through the slot in post 'M. When the wing-vane is in thisposition the lever is and rod K have drawn the shiftinghub h rearward toits limit of play, causing vanes G to be turned edge to the wind, ornearly so, as desired, the parts of the adjusting-clutch operating asbefore explained, and securing the vanes G in position, as shown inFig. 1. These are the extreme positions of the parts of my invention, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. In winds of any degree of velocity between acalm and ahurricane the wing-vane L is blown backward, and turned to aposition corresponding to the force of the wind, moving the lever 70,rod K, and shifting-hub h, so as to adjust the vanes G so that saidvanes will at all time's present a proper surface to the wind, andmaintain a uniform speed of revolution in the wheel. The weight of rod1' is such that it will, through intermediate parts, return the vanestoward the wind as it decreases in force. By means of this rod r thevanes may be turned edge to the wind, and the wheel stopped at any timeby hand.

I am well aware that automatically-adjustable wind-wheels haveheretofore been used; butI believe that in simplicity of construction,efficiency, durability, and cheapness, my herein-described improvementsupplies a want long felt in those regions where wind-power is utilized;and now,

Having fully described the construction and explained the operation ofmy said improvement in wind-wheels, so that others may be able to makeand use the same, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. Ina wind-wheel, the vanes Gr, hinged at their edges to radial arms f, incombination tion with slip-joints j, shifting-hub h, having radial armsh, and the regulator, substantially as described.

2. The combination of hinged vanes G, arms 71/, shifting-hub h, havingdiagonal hole 1 in the end thereof, and disk 3, provided with inclinedpin 2, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of lever 70, rod 0, regulating wind-vane L, revolvingabout rod 0 as an axis when said rod vibrates, rod K, and the adjustablevanes of a windwheel, arranged and operating substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affixhereto my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB M. KAUFFMAN.

Witnesses:

J. M. EMORY, E. W. B. PHILLIPS.

